Teens: Why You Aren't Talking to Your Doctor About Sex

Teens are staying quiet on sex when it comes to their doctor visits. Why?

(Photo from the original article via http://goo.gl/NYVPvN)

In case you missed it, the debate has been stirring for a few months now on teens, sexual health, and their doctors. Recent studies have found that very few teens are having discussions with their doctors about sex. Some parents wish to keep it this way, but many experts are arguing that it's a conversation that should be a part of every visit in order to keep teens safe and healthy. This article is written by teens to explain why some are less than thrilled about opening up to their doctor about their sex life.

Read the full article on +The Huffington Post: http://goo.gl/NYVPvN

The HPV Vaccine

Despite some beliefs, this study shows no increase in sexual activity when girls receive the HPV vaccine.

(Photo: +Shutterstock via original article at http://goo.gl/t2iWXi)

Remember when it was a hot-topic a few years ago during the 2012 presidential election? Candidates, politicians, and parents all argued that a vaccine for girls would encourage them to have sex. The vaccine, which guards against the Human Papillomavirus (HPV), got a bad rap from many conservative groups. The controversy has since died down and a new study reveals that a lot of those fears may be irrational. The study cites no increase in sexual behavior among teen girls that receive the vaccine and not as many misconceptions as some parents believed. Researchers hope that it will encourage parents to get their sons and daughters protected.

Although it is primarily known for women, the vaccine protects against both males and females. To learn more about the virus, the vaccine, and the study, read the article below. Have you had your child vaccinated yet?

The original article is available here: http://goo.gl/t2iWXi

'X-Rated' Poster Sparks Outrage

How much is too much? Middle school sex ed program features ‘x-rated’ poster.

(Photo from the original article | Credit: Fox News)

A Kansas middle school is under fire after part of its sexual education program featured a poster with explicit sexual acts listed to answer the question “How do people express their sexual feelings?” After one parent discovered the poster, he became outraged and threatened to pull his daughter out of the class. The school board has since taken it down for review. But here’s my question: Is it better to inform children (even as young as middle school) about these acts in hopes of preventing STDs, unplanned pregnancy, and other issues? Or is it better to focus sexual education elsewhere? I’ve seen statistics that suggest teens who know more about sex are more likely to abstain from it, unlike what opponents of sexual education claim. I happen to agree that its better to inform them of this. Chances are their classmates or siblings have told them enough that they have heard of these terms anyways; best to take the curiosity out of it to prevent them from experimenting on their own. But where do you stand? What’s the limit on sexual education?

Read a preview of the full article from +Think Progress:

A middle school in Kansas has removed a poster that used to supplement some of the sex ed curricula for eighth graders, following complaints from one parent who took his case to the press. The poster, entitled “How Do People Express Their Sexual Feelings?”, lists various sexual activities like “grinding,” “oral sex,” “kissing,” and “sexual fantasy.” It sparked considerable controversy last week after one 13-year-old student snapped a photo of it and showed it to her father, who threatened to remove her from the sex ed class. Read more